You can disable comments on individual posts or turn them off for all future posts
Facebook lets you control who can comment on your posts in two ways: you can turn off comments on a single post after you publish it, or you can change your default settings so new posts don't allow comments from the start. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using Facebook on a computer or phone, and whether you want to block comments right away or prevent them going forward.
Disabling comments is useful if a post is attracting unwanted responses, if you want to share something without opening a discussion, or if you're posting something sensitive and want to control the conversation. You can re-enable comments later if you change your mind.
Key Takeaways
- On a computer, click the three dots on any published post, select "Edit Post," and change the comment setting from "Friends" or "Public" to "Off."
- On a phone, tap the three dots on a published post, choose "Edit Post," and toggle the comment option to "Off."
- You can set your default so all new posts have comments turned off by going to Settings, then Privacy, and changing "Who can comment on your posts?"
- Disabling comments on an old post does not delete existing comments — it only prevents new ones from being added.
- People who already commented can still see their own comments, but no one can add new replies.
How to turn off comments on a post you've already published
Find the post on your timeline or in your profile. Look for the three dots (called the menu icon) in the top right corner of the post. On a computer, click those three dots. On a phone, tap them.
A menu will appear. Select "Edit Post" from the options. A window will open showing your post with editing tools. Look for the comment setting — it usually shows an icon that looks like a speech bubble or says "Friends," "Public," or "Off." Click or tap on that setting to change it.
Select "Off" from the dropdown menu. This prevents anyone from adding new comments to that post. Click "Save" or "Done" to confirm the change. The post stays visible, but the comment box disappears for everyone viewing it.
How to set comments to off for all future posts
On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of your Facebook page (next to your profile picture). Select "Settings and Privacy," then click "Settings." On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu), scroll down, and tap "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings."
Look for "Privacy" in the left menu on a computer, or scroll down on a phone. Find the setting that says "Who can comment on your posts?" Click or tap on it. You'll see options like "Friends," "Public," or "Off." Select "Off" if you want comments disabled by default on all new posts.
Save your changes. From that point forward, any new post you create will have comments turned off automatically. You can still change individual posts later if you want to allow comments on a specific one.
What happens to existing comments when you disable them
Turning off comments does not delete comments that are already there. People who commented before you disabled the feature can still see their own comments and any replies to them. However, no one — including you — can add new comments or replies once you've turned comments off.
If you want to remove existing comments entirely, you'll need to delete them individually. Click or tap on a comment, look for the three dots or trash icon, and select "Delete." This removes that single comment from the post.
How to turn comments back on
Go back to the post using the same method: click or tap the three dots, select "Edit Post," and change the comment setting from "Off" back to "Friends" or "Public." Save your changes. Comments can now be added again.
If you changed your default setting to "Off" for all future posts and want to allow comments again, return to Settings, find "Who can comment on your posts?" and select "Friends" or "Public" instead of "Off."
Why you might not see the comment option
If you cannot find the comment setting on a post, the post may be too old. Facebook limits editing options on very old posts — usually those more than a few months old. You can still delete the post entirely if you want to remove it from your timeline.
Another reason might be that you're viewing someone else's post. You can only control comments on posts you created yourself. If someone else posted something and you want to report it or ask them to remove it, use the three-dot menu on their post and select "Report Post" or "Send [Person] a Message."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off comments on someone else's post?
No. You can only control comments on posts you created. If a post bothers you, you can report it to Facebook or message the person who posted it. If it's your own post that someone else created, you can ask them to disable comments or delete the post.
Will people know I turned off comments?
Yes. When comments are turned off, the comment box simply disappears from the post. Anyone viewing it will see that comments are not available. There's no notification sent to people who already commented, but they'll notice if they try to add a reply.
Can I turn off comments for just one person?
No. When you disable comments, you disable them for everyone. If you want to block one specific person from commenting, you can block that person entirely, which prevents them from seeing your posts and commenting on anything you share.
What if I want to allow comments but hide them from my timeline?
You can delete individual comments without turning off comments entirely. Click the three dots on a comment and select "Delete." The comment disappears, but others can still add new comments. This is different from disabling comments, which stops all new comments from being added.
Do comments turn off automatically on old posts?
No. Comments remain on by default unless you manually turn them off. Even very old posts will allow comments unless you go back and change the setting yourself.